Science, Tech., and Values

Prerequisite: One 100-level, three-credit course in philosophy (PHIL) This course focuses on the ways that values underlie all aspects of scientific inquiry and of technology. We examine why we call science "objective" and "neutral," revealing a more complex and value-driven structure. Looking at science practice as a value-laden and goal-driven enterprise, we study the interactions between evidence thresholds and ethical guidelines, and examine the ways in which technology embeds politics, directly and indirectly. We study cases of values applied to science and technology in various fields, and their effects on policy issues (e.g., climate change, information privacy and security, mapping, health recommendations, crime prediction). Finally, we consider what responsibilities science and technology fields and practitioners have to the public.  Offered spring semester.